Insulated rail-joint.



H. L. WOOD. INSULATED RAIL JOINT. APPLIOATION FILED 001212. 1912,

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H. L. WOOD. INSULATED RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED 0cT.1z. 1912 1,087,623. Patented Feb. 17', 1914.

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HOWARD L. VOOD, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO. ASSIGNGR TG THE RAIL JOINT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK7 N. Y.. A CORPORATION OF NEV YORK.

INSULATED RAIL-JOINT.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 32. 19.1.2.

Patented Feb. 17, i914.

semi no. 725,457.

To all whom. it may concern le it known that l. Howann L. VOOD. a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus. in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio. have invented certain new and useful lniprovcments in insulated Rail-Joints. of which the following is a specification.

invention relates to the subject of rail joints. and more particularly to the construction of a splice bar or joint bar which possesses special utility in its application to a rail joint of the insulated type. though emhodj-*iug characteristics which render the same useful in standard joint constructions.

To'this end the invention contemplates a novel and practical construction of insulated rail joint, and also a novel and practical design of splice bar embodied therein, the improved construction being intended to secure the solidity and base-supporting strength of a standard joint, while at the same time thoroughly insulating the joint thr ughout with the use of a minimum amount of insulating material.

in carrying out the foregoing general objects, the invention has in view a construction wherein each joint bar provides a railsupporting base throughout the entire length of the joint and also provides a direct metallic bearing with the under side of the head and the upper side of the rail base flange for one rail end, while the other rail end. at the same side of the j oint, is adapted. with the improved splice bar, to be combined withn wooden or equivalent filler member. This secures, in connection with a single splice bar. the combined advantages of the standard joint bar having a rail supporting hase plate, and a construction employing a wooden or equivalent filler member. Furthermore, this novel combination admits of a simple'and practical arrangement of parts whereby the filler elements may be utilized as a part of the joint insulation so that it is only necessary to employ a small amount of insulating material, respectively at the base of the rails and between the rail ends, in order to secure a complete insulation of the joint without detracting in the slightest from its effectiveness as an insulated joint.

. Though susceptible of embodiment in different forms of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, the same consists in the novel construction,` combination and arrangement of parts hereina ter more full'v described, illustrated, and claimed, and for purposes of illustration. one simple aud'practical form of construction `for carrying the invention into etljcft is shown iu the accompanying drawings. in which- 'I i rig-ure l 1s a sectional perspective view of a rail joint of the insulated type embodyinfr the improvements claimed herein; Fig. i is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the joint on the lino S-l of Fig. 2. showing the cross sectional form of the joint at the end opposite that shown in Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the novel form of splice bar.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the illustrated embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, 'the numerals 1 and 2 designate the respective rail ends ofthe joint.I and, according to the present invention, it is proposed to associate therewith at each side of the joint, a novel form of splice har or joint bar. This bar, as plainly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, 1s not -of uniform design throughout. Each half thereofis of a dierent design from the other half, and in part.I subserves different functions, though both halves are integrated and are provided with rail supporting base plates so that the rails have a base support throughout the entire length of the joint. The bar as a unit is designa-ted by the reference numeral 3 and thesame consists ofwhat may be termed a fishingspace member l: and a shoe-angle memberi, each of which members is of a length approximately equaling one-half the length of the joint.

The fishing-space member 4 of the splice `bar 3 includes an upright member 5a provided at its upper edge with a bearing head G for engagement beneath the head of the rail and having formed therewith, at its lower edge, the inclined outwardly extending foot flange 7 which overlies and directly bears upon the upper side of the rail base flange of a rail. This foot ange 7 of the fishing-space member has formed integrallv therewith `the horizontal inwardly extending base plate 8 which underlies, and constitutes the supporting base for, a rail, there beine, a rail Bange receiving groove or channel 9 provided betweenthe foot ange 7 and' the base plate 8.

The shoe-angle member 5 of each splice bar i'orms the other half et the latter and is integrally or otherwise rigidly united with the fishing-space member et by means ot a. .connecting iveb or equivalent union 10 betiveen the upper portion of both members ot the bar. In structure, the said shoe-angle member 5 consists ot the right angularly related parts 11 and 1Q, the part 11 constituting an upright clamping or bolt plate, and the part 12 constituting a rail sujjiporting' base plate which underlies and supports the rail. A continuous foot flange extension 13 may be provided along the outer lower edge o1 the combination splice bar throughout the entire length thereof it' desired or preferred, said 'foot flange extension being utilized for reinforcing or other purposes.

In the application of the improved conn bination splice bar to a. rail joint, the same possesses special utility in a joint of the insulated type, such as shown in the accompanying drawings. Referred to this use ot the improved bar it will be observed that one of the saine is arranged at each side oil the joint. As thus arranged, the sliing-space member f1 of each bar closely fits in the tishing-space ot one rail end so as to have a direct metallic bearing' engagement with the under side ot the rail head and the upper side of the rail base flange, with the base plate 8 disposed beneath and supporting the rail bottom. The other member 5 ot the same bar receives the other .rail end, but by reason of the offsetting ot' the upright clamping1 plate 1l, the latter is oiisct vfrom said other rail end and is adapted to be combineil vvith a wooden or equivalent lillcr member ist. This ller member interposed between the uprifiht clamping plate of the shoe angle and th adjacent rail side, fitting' in the fishing space ot' such rail and having al direct bearing engagement at tta with the under side oi the rail head, and a direct' bearing` engagement as at with the upper side ot 'the rail base tiange, thus contributing materiallj7 to the solidity of the joint and the support ot the rails, While also performing' an. insulating function.

in the preferable application of the invention, shown in the drawings, it may be ol served that the opposite splice bars are ar ranged in reverse relation with the shing* space member ot one bar fitting one rail end and the fishing-space member ot the other bar fitting' the other rail end, and the shoe` angle members 5 ot the separate bars corres spondingly rotated, thus disposing the insu lating iiller members 111- in staggered order and making' a-joint having a uniform and Well balanced arrangement ot parts through out. -However, it will, o'l" course, be unden' stood that I do not limit my invention to this precise cor traction and arrangement of parts, since the nnproved combination splice Leonesa' bar may be applied in .other'ways in the construction ot both standard and insulated joints, Without departing from the spirit or principle of the invention.

In adapting the improvements to a joint oit the insulated type, of the form shown in the drawings, it is only necessary to supplement the insulation afforded through the filler members 14e by providing all of the bolts with suitable insulation, such for instance as the well known bushing and Washer insulation designated by the reference number 16, and by employing base insulation plates 17 which are interposed betuf'een the rail bottoms and the base plates 8 and 1Q respectively, and which insulation plates are preferably formed at their outer edn'es with upturned insulating V[langes 18 Whichare disposed at the outer edge of the rail base flanges and prevent metal contact with the joint bars at thesc'points. Insulation ot a p joint of this character is completed by an insulating end post 19 placed between the rail ends.

.ln the manufacture of a splice bar constructed in accordance with the present invention, the same could be advantageously and economically made ot' cast steel or by rolling,r and pressing operations, or in fact by any approved or practical method.

it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages ot the herein described process oit making' rail joints will be readily apparent 'with no other description, and it is also to be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, andminor details ot construction as 'fall Within the scope et the apiiendcd claims may be resorted to without departing' trom the invention or sacrificing: any of the advantages thereof.

l" claim:

1. A splice bar 'For rail joints having;r a rail supporting base section `throughout and including a .shoe angle member and a fishing' space member otiset from said shoe angle member.

2. A. splice bar for rail joints consisting ot a fishing-space member. and a shoe angle member, each member extending one half the length of the bar.

3. A splice bar tor rail joints having a rail-supporting' base section throughout its entire length and including a fishing-space member for one halt' ot its length. and a sh'oe angle member tor the other halt oit its length.

4. A rail joint including the rails, a splice bar having;` a fishing-space incn'iber adapted to iit the shinpT space of one rail cud. and a shoe angle member receivingr the other rail end, and a filler arranged Within the shoe angle,

A rail joint including a splice-bar con- Sisting' of a rail base-siuljportinirr fishingil H5 las .space member fitting the iishing space o f one rail end, and a shoe angle member receiving `the upright of the shoe angle.

7. A-n insulated rail joint. including a splice bar having a fishing-space member fitting the shing space of one rail end, and

a shoe angle member receiving the other rail end, an insulating filler block interposed between the latter and the upright of the shoe angle, and insulation for the rail bases.

8. An insulated rail joint including a splice bar having a shing-space member fitting the fishing space, of one rail end, and

a'shoe angle member receiving the other rail end, an insulating filler block interposed between the latter and the upright of the shoe angle, and insulation for the rail bases and the joint bolts.

9. An insulated rail joint including a splice bar consisting of a fishing-space member havinga base plate and adapted to fit the fishing space of one rail end, and a shoe angle receiving the other rail endfa Wooden filler block fitting the shing space of the latter and against the inner side of the upright of the shoel angle, base insulation plates interposed between the rail bottoms and base plates of both members of the bar, bolt insulation, and an insulating end post.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

HOWARD L. WOOD.

Witnesses W. A, DoRsEY, J. A. THARPE.

Copies oi this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent. Washington, D. C. 

